San Franciscans remember Karl Lagerfeld as a visionary...

1of2A tribute to the designer Karl Lagerfeld in the window of his boutique near the Champs Elysees on February 20, 2019 in Paris, France. Celebrated fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld died in Paris yesterday, aged 85. Most recently he was Creative Director at both the fashion houses of Chanel and Fendi and during his career he also worked with Pierre Balmain and Chloe. Several designers have paid tribute to him including Donatella Versace and Victoria Beckham. Virginie Viard, who was with Lagerfeld since she was an intern, has been appointed by Chanel as his successor.Photo: Kiran Ridley / Getty Images

2of2In this file photo taken on October 04, 2016, German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld acknowledges the audience at the end of the Chanel 2017 Spring/Summer ready-to-wear collection fashion show in Paris. German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has died at the age of 85, it was announced on February 19, 2019.Photo: Patrick Kovarik / AFP / Getty Images

When fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld died on Tuesday, Feb. 19, he left an undeniable imprint on the fashion industry. There were certainly celebrity designers before Lagerfeld, who was believed to be 85 at the time of his death, but the German-born director of Chanel, Fendi and his own eponymous collection was one of the first whose cult of personality became as famous as his designs. From his powder-white ponytail and black sunglasses to his signature fan, the vision of Karl Lagerfeld became just as iconic as the quilted Chanel bags he reinvented season after season in his 36 years at the house. Bay Area collectors and fashion professionals shared their thoughts on Lagerfeld’s legacy with The Chronicle.

Christine Suppes, fashion author and collector, Palo Alto: “Karl’s spring 2003 haute couture show for Chanel was my favorite. It was technically perfect. He took Coco’s (Chanel) tulle evening wear, the best of her, and master-worked them into day dresses and put thin, tweed coats over them with masses of pearls. I estimate that half of my fashion collection that I gifted to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco is Chanel.”

Sherri McMullen, retailer, Oakland: “Karl Lagerfeld was undeniably one of the biggest influencers in fashion history.I remember seeing him in Paris at Hotel Le Meurice around 2015, a place many fashion people frequent around fashion week. I will have his pieces forever, love them, wear them for years and eventually pass down to my family. How often do you say that about pieces you have in your closet?”

Barbara Brown, philanthropist, San Francisco: “I don’t remember life before Karl; nobody had those creative juices. The pieces I’ve saved are 20, 30 years old and I can pull those out today and they’re perfect. I have one demi-couture dress that is gray, a heavy silk with amethyst stones on the shoulders and just above the waist. To put that on is incredible.”

Simon Ungless, executive director at the Academy of Art University School of Fashion, San Francisco: “Karl was brilliant in that he surrounded himself with people who knew what was going on and had an eye for everything. He was generous toward the fashion industry in how Chanel supported artisans in France and beyond — from large houses like Lesage to smaller companies. I can’t think of anyone else who designed so many different collections at so many different companies at once.”

Dr. Carolyn Chang poses in a gown and shoes by Chanel at the San Francisco Symphony's opening night Gala in San Francisco on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015.

Photo: Alex Washburn / Special to The Chronicle

Dr. Carolyn Chang, plastic surgeon, San Francisco: “Karl was just like what he designed; everything was new always. How many times do you need a black leather quilted bag? It was endless — there was always a new take.”

Jennifer Raiser, author, San Francisco: “There is no one within the century who had a better anticipation of the zeitgeist over and over again than Karl Lagerfeld. When I was starting out in business as a 28-year-old, I wore Chanel as armour. Everyone understood if you had a Harvard MBA and a Chanel suit, you don’t mess with that.”

Details of Joel Goodrich’s Chanel jacket button and Versace sequin jacket seen during the 91st Season Opening Night Gala of the San Francisco Opera at City Hall in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013.

Photo: Stephen Lam / Special to The Chronicle

Joel Goodrich, Realtor, San Francisco: “The first time I met Karl, I was invited to the Chanel show with Lenny Kravitz and his daughter Zoe. We went backstage after. I was wearing Versace and thought, ‘Uh-oh, I’m not wearing Chanel.’ ... When we got to the party after, he said hi to Lenny and looked me up and down in those thick dark glasses and said nothing about the jacket. The next time I saw him was in New York for a dinner honoring him, and I made sure to wear my black sequin Chanel jacket!”

In this file photo taken on March 7, 2017 models present creations by Chanel next to a spacecraft during the women’s Fall-Winter 2017-2018 ready-to-wear collection fashion show in Paris at the Grand Palais turned into a space station, with a life-size rocket ship. German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has died at the age of 85, it was announced on February 19, 2019.

Photo: Patrick Kovarik / AFP / Getty Images

Sonya Molodetskaya, fashion blogger, San Francisco: Being a Russian immigrant, I could never dream of being invited to a Chanel show when I was growing up. I’m not a million dollar client, but when I was invited I could not believe myself when I walked into the fall 2017-18 show with the giant rocket set. I arrived so early just to observe everything. I’m bringing all Chanel jewelry to Paris — I have a feeling lots of women will be wearing Chanel in tribute.

Karl Lagerfield and his cat, Choupette, are seen in this exclusive photo from Harper's Bazaar.

Photo: Joel Saget / AFP / Getty Images

Richie Rich, fashion designer, San Francisco and New York: “My favorite memory of Karl is him coming to the Bowery Ballroom with Jake Shears and Kylie Minogue one night. I was never starstruck with all the celebrities I worked with but with him I was! His muse, Brad Kroenig, walked for me at my Heatherette show, I feel like they had a good family feeling together. I just wonder where his beloved cat Choupette is right now.”

Editor’s note: And seeming to answer Richie Rich, the following message was posted to Choupette the cat’s Instagram account:

@choupettesdiary: “Thank you everyone for your words of condolence. With a once cold but now simply broken heart, I am going into mourning. I pray that your kind words and well-wishes will help me to put my best paw forward in my future without Daddy @KarlLagerfeld & as my own woman.”

Tony Bravo is a Style reporter and frequent contributor to Datebook and Green State. Bravo has been the New York Fashion Week correspondent since 2013 and specializes in stories about the cultural impact of clothing. He is an adjunct instructor at the City College of San Francisco Fashion Department and a fourth-generation San Franciscan.